The citys development authority is now planning to open the 11.4 km Metro line in a single phase instead of commissioning the Metro corridor in two phases. The proposed deadline is the end of December.

According to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA),obtaining the various safety clearances from the Indian Railways and the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety for the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro would be easier if the corridor is to be commissioned in a single phase.

Though we have not taken a final decision on this yet,we are thinking on those lines. Instead of having just a two or three month-gap in the commissioning of the two phases of the Metro,it would perhaps be better if the entire corridor is opened at once, said UPS Madan,metropolitan commissioner at the MMRDA. Madan added that if the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro is opened in two phases,the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL),which is constructing the corridor,will have to repeat the process of obtaining safety clearances.

The MMRDA was earlier planning to commission a 7-km stretch up to Airport Road in the first phase by September,as the work on this section was in an advanced stage. The MMOPL a consortium of Reliance Infrastructure,Veolia Transport and MMRDA- had conducted a trial run on this stretch in the first week of June.

The second phase from Airport road Metro station to Ghatkopar was to be opened by the end of this year.

We hope to now commission the entire Metro corridor by December end. Towards the Ghatkopar end,there are two or three small structures that are obstructing the construction of the staircase. So the work up to Ghatkopar is not complete yet. We expect it to be completed by the next month or so, Madan said.

Sources in MMOPL said that while the flooring,roofing,signage and systems integration of the staions have been completed,work on the staircases is still pending.

However,sources said this will not hinder the commissioning of the Metro as the stations have alternative arrangements for the movement of passengers. While the MMOPL has completed the installation of signaling and ticketing works for stations from Versova to Airport road,the installation at the other stations is in progress.